Foldable book end



Oct. 18, 1955 G. L. JAUCH FOLDABLE BOOK END Filed Sept. 18, 19515 IN V E TOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent FOLDABLE BOOK END Gustav L. Jauch, San Francisco, Calif. Application September 18, 1953, Serial No. 381,495., 1 Claim. (Cl. 211-42) This invention relates to book ticularly to a novel book end.

The present invention provides a foldable book end which is adapted for table or desk use in supporting a row of books in an upright position. My improved book end is capable of being compactly folded for storage or shipment purposes. A novel feature characterizing my invention resides in the provision of a base member and a normally upright book supporting member, such members being hinged together at adjacent ends, thereby permitting the folding of the upright member upon the base member, the said members embodying engaging means which secures the upright member against displacement from an upright position when a row of books is being supported thereby.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel foldable book end for desk or table use, comprising a base member and an upright book supporting member, together with connecting hinge means which permits the convenient folding of the said members against one another for compactness in shipping.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved foldable book end of the kind characterized, wherein pivotally connected base and book supporting members are formed with engaging means which normally secures the book supporting member against displacement from an upright position.

Other and further objects of my invention will be pointed out hereinafter, or will be indicated in the appended claim, or will be obvious to one skilled in the art upon an understanding of the present disclosure. For the purpose of this application I have elected to show certain forms and details of a foldable book end representative of my invention; it is to be understood, however, that the embodiment of my invention herein shown and described is for illustration purposes only and that therefore it is not to be regarded as exhaustive of the variations of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of my book end, showing the same in a set up book supporting position;

Figure 2 is perspective view showing the book end folded;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed sectional view showing the hinge means joining the base and book supporting members together; and

Figure 4 is a side view of the folded book end.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 1 designates a base plate or member carrying upstanding parallel side flanges 2 adjacent its rear end which support pivot pins 3 or the like. The base plate is preferably flat, and when in use it normally rests on a table top or desk with one or more of a group of upstanding books supported thereon.

holders and more par- Patented Oct. 18, 1955 Pivotally supported on the flanges 2 of the base plate by means of the pivot pins 3 is an upright book supporting plate or member 4 which in its normal upstanding position is arranged to engage with and prevent the end book of the row of upstanding books from becoming displaced. The supporting plate 4 is formed with forwardly extending opposed side walls 5 which are mounted on the pivot pins 3; and extending laterally from the forward edges of such side walls are forward walls or extensions 6 which lie in a common vertical plane at substantially right angles to the base plate 1. The opposed side walls 5 are somewhat triangular in shape, each being formed with its forward and rear edges converging upwardly, with its maximum width at its lower end. By having the side walls 5 somewhat triangular in shape the large fiat area of the supporting plate 4 will be inclined slightly in a forward direction, and the forward walls 6 will be disposed in a substantially vertical plane.

The upstanding flanges 2 are positioned forwardly of the rear edge of the base plate, and the width of the lower end of each of the side walls 5 is such that the lower edge of the upright book supporting plate 4 engages with the upper surface of the rear end portion of the said base plate, thereby preventing the said book supporting plate from swinging rearwardly beyond its normal upright position irrespective of the rearward pressure imposed upon it. The book supporting plate 4 being provided with the ofiset walls 5 and 6 is sturdy and rigid, and because of such a construction it is not only ornamental in appearance but it is not apt to be bent out of shape by the pressure of books against it.

When two of my book ends are used to support a row of books in upright positions, the end books of such a row normally rest on the base plates 1, and since such end books engage with the vertical forward walls 6 of the supporting plates 4, the various books of the row are normally supported in upright or substantially vetrical positions.

The hinged connection makes supporting plate and the base pact side by side positions contacting the base plate. Since my improved book end when folded is somewhat triangular in shape, it is possible to arrange two of such book ends into a compact package for storage or shipping.

What I claim is:

A book end comprising a substantially horizontal and flat base plate having upstanding opposed flanges extending from its lateral sides near its rear end, a book supporting plate normally positioned in a forwardly inclined position with its lower edge engaging with the upper surface of the base plate, the said supporting plate having forwardly disposed substantially parallel side walls of substantially triangular shape and outwardly extending substantially vertical book engaging walls lying in a substantially vertical common plane and connected to the forward ends of the side walls, the book supporting plate with its book engaging walls having substantially the same overall width as the base plate, and pivot means connecting the side walls and the upstanding flanges.

it possible for the book plate to be folded into comwith the forward walls 6 Sargent Jan. 10, 1893 McCulloch Nov. 4, 1952 

